Saturday, January 4, 2014

New Tech. in 2014



Today is a brilliant day in Vernon, blue sky and bright sun.  The temperature is -4c., but it felt warmer as I walked to the Black Rock and back around noon.  I have just learned that in a list of Canadian cities with the least sun in winter, Vernon ranks sixth, so I appreciate the fact that today and tomorrow are forecast to be cloudless.  The person who made me aware of the above fact has moved here from Wakefield for the winter and perhaps to stay.  He studied weather conditions all across Canada before settling on Vernon, much as my dad did before they decided to retire to Victoria.  He was undeterred by the dull statistics because he had read Mo’s blog, which sings the praises of the area and heard other accounts of the ski conditions at Sovereign and Silver Star.  I met him with Mo and John the other day and discovered that I didn’t know him but had skied with his wife when Jim and I took downhill racing classes from Jay’s coach years ago.

One down side to life in Vernon is that it’s very difficult to get CBC Radio 2 on my radios, and I’m sick for the moment of all the talking on Radio1.  So in an effort to change and expand my outlook, I have figured out how to get Radio 2 on my laptop and am presently listening to “Deep Roots”, a program featuring new Canadian roots music and some international roots music.  The best part is that I can choose which region to pull the music in from; I’m presently listening to Central Canada.  Not bad, eh.  By the way, someone recently told me that ‘eh’ is dying.  Young Canadians aren’t saying it.  I hadn’t noticed, but I’ve been hanging out with old Canadians lately.

Another way in which I’m slowly entering the 21st century is thanks to Jay who sent me his old i-Phone in the Christmas parcel.  I had to drive to Kelowna this week to the see the only person in the Okanagan who can unlock it, whatever that means.  Jay had made sure that it wouldn’t be ‘blocked’ by his provider, but unlocking is another thing apparently.  I should have it next week sometime and then I’ll sign on with a server and get help learning how to use it.  I have two friends who use i-Phones and will help me and the library offers seniors courses in using such devices. 

The sun is setting a deep gold light on “Jim’s eccentricity”, turning that old garage into a delightful sight.  I’m going to finish making kim bap for Mo and John who will join me for a beer and snack before we go to a movie at 7:00pm.  

Talking of technology, my good old camera finally snapped its last shot.  The shutter won't fully open any more.  I guess the next pictures in the blog will be taken by my new i-Phone or a friend.  Here are the last 2 shots from the old Nikon.


A wind surfer at sunset off the shore near mom and dad's

The same sunset with the shutter already partly shut.

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